The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 101
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 101
Though Mugyeol’s education was limited, he could tell that Seomseo Iron Fist’s red eyes were not normal.
‘I hope he doesn’t die.’
It wasn’t an appropriate thought to have about someone who had beaten and threatened him. However, having experienced Seomseo Iron Fist’s punches, Mugyeol hoped he wouldn’t die.
‘What incredible fist technique.’
In Mugyeol’s mind, Seomseo Iron Fist was throwing punches for what felt like the hundredth time.
Gradually, the sequence of Seomseo Iron Fist’s footwork and punches replayed in slow motion.
Besides his Heavenly Bone Constitution, Mugyeol had another special talent.
He could see other people’s movements strangely slowly and precisely.
It didn’t happen every time, but when he concentrated properly, he could see the trajectory of movements. And he could imitate them exactly.
Though he had intended to lie down, Mugyeol found himself unconsciously getting up as he mulled over the memory, following Seomseo Iron Fist’s footwork and throwing punches.
His small fist weakly cut through the air.
“Tsk.”
It was the moment Mugyeol clicked his tongue.
“Who did you meet?”
Without him noticing when he’d arrived, Ok Chifung stood right behind Mugyeol, radiating a cold aura.
Mugyeol flinched.
“Mugyeol, tell me quickly. Who did you meet?”
Ok Chifung pressed Mugyeol with a clearly different intimidating presence than usual, grabbing his chin to examine him.
“Who did this to you?”
Ok Chifung was angry.
Mugyeol’s heart pounded more wildly than when he had unexpectedly encountered Seomseo Iron Fist.
“Who taught you that fist technique?”
Mugyeol barely managed to move his lips.
“I just got into a fight…”
“Don’t lie. Your body reeks of corpse flower. Who is it? The one who used finger sword technique on you and left that foul smell.”
Corpse flower—it meant the smell of rotting corpses.
And this smell was deeply related to something Ok Chifung was secretly investigating.
Those who had touched forbidden drugs in pursuit of power.
They fell into serious drug addiction and gave off the corpse flower smell when they were near death.
Ordinary people would dismiss it as unwashed stench or terrible body odor, but Ok Chifung knew that smell precisely.
He had met over ten addicts, and he had smelled the same scent from all of them.
“Mugyeol, this is dangerous and serious. Answer me quickly.”
He didn’t want to pressure the young Mugyeol with force. So he desperately hoped Mugyeol would tell him the truth before that.
Then Mugyeol hesitantly opened his mouth.
“I met… Seomseo Iron Fist Heo Ganghan.”
The area under Ok Chifung’s eyes trembled.
Seomseo Iron Fist Heo Ganghan, who had made a name for himself with his fist technique, had suddenly disappeared two years ago.
Separately from that, news of him often reached them. News that he had committed heinous crimes.
People said Seomseo Iron Fist Heo Ganghan had fallen to corruption, but Ok Chifung didn’t believe it.
But what if the person Mugyeol met was really the Seomseo Iron Fist he knew?
“Lead the way.”
“Pardon?”
“Lead the way to where you met Seomseo Iron Fist.”
Ok Chifung gripped his sword handle tightly.
* * *
Oh Bangja, hiding behind a tree, watched Shin Ah with trembling legs.
In front of Geumwa Trading Company’s warehouse, Shin Ah and Yuhyeon were chatting and laughing together.
‘Give So Shin Ah a bitter taste.’
The cold voice that had given him that command came to mind.
Though he had kept it hidden until now, he had enough skill to easily handle a mere talkative girl.
Yet his body wouldn’t move forward readily.
‘The Chang’an Branch chief must have used some trick! Otherwise, how could those centipedes just appear and disappear? So seamlessly!’
On the day Shin Ah had barged into the thatched cottage where Oh Bangja was hiding, Bang Jin had insisted that Shin Ah had used some strange sorcery.
He had dismissed it as nonsense, but inwardly he was concerned.
‘Could the matter that the Yuwon Pavilion lady asked me to investigate possibly be related to So Shin Ah?’
A couple of months ago, Dang Mihee had sent Oh Bangja a letter.
[Please find out if there are any demonic arts that have similar effects to Samadhi True Fire and North Sea Ice Technique.]
He had investigated but found no significant results, so he couldn’t send a reply to Dang Mihee.
He had forgotten about it, but yesterday Bang Jin’s story brought it back to mind.
‘Could that child possibly be one of our people?’
Oh Bangja was one of countless Demon Cult followers serving Cheonma, hiding his identity and working for the Demon Cult while blending in among ordinary people.
He had heard there were quite a few others like him, but due to the nature of thoroughly concealing their identities, they didn’t know of each other’s existence.
If what Bang Jin said was true, and what Mihee asked about was related to So Shin Ah.
‘There’s a high probability she’s on our side.’
There’s no way that tiny child could already be at the peak master level, able to use Samadhi True Fire and illusion techniques.
‘Could she have taken the medicine? If so, that means she can obtain the medicine?’
He stared at Shin Ah until his eyes became bloodshot.
The moment confusion turned to certainty, the murderous intent in his eyes died and greed came alive.
‘That’s it. That will take me to Cheonma.’
Oh Bangja licked his dry lips with his tongue and waited for Shin Ah to be alone.
* * *
“You’re telling me to be careful of Oh Bangja?”
Yuhyeon asked Shin Ah.
Shin Ah nodded while locking the warehouse door.
By the way, why did Yuhyeon keep coming to the warehouse?
Yuhyeon appeared before Shin Ah whenever she was about to forget about him.
No, he didn’t give her a chance to forget. He came to the warehouse or Chang’an Branch about once every two days.
It wasn’t for any important business. He just brought gifts each time, claiming he had received them from other people.
‘Seomun Inn sent a gift. They said they’re grateful for always giving them good items.’
‘I’m looking for new business partners. It’s a tea house—would you like to taste this tea?’
Since they weren’t expensive items, she couldn’t refuse them. As a result, the amount of gifts she had received from him was quite substantial.
‘I can’t just take everything and pretend nothing happened.’
He told her not to feel burdened, but Shin Ah, who hated being indebted, only thought about repaying him somehow, someday.
‘I’m even repaying my debt to Grandfather, so there’s no reason to owe a complete stranger like the guild master.’
Come to think of it, she had already repaid one gold piece to So Hyeokho.
The road ahead was still long, but didn’t they say that even a thousand-li journey begins with a single step?
‘Just wait until I turn fifteen. I’ll sweep up all the big escort missions and pay it back in one go, plus interest.’
Shin Ah, who had been lost in thought for a moment, snapped back to attention when she felt a piercing gaze.
As Shin Ah’s expression hardened, Yuhyeon shrugged his shoulders.
“What’s wrong? Is there somewhere you feel uncomfortable?”
“Wait a moment. Don’t mind me and just continue what you were saying naturally.”
The killing intent felt from behind—no, whose was this persistent gaze whose true intentions were hard to gauge?
Though she was looking at Yuhyeon, Shin Ah’s attention was focused on the area near a tree about twenty paces away.
Yuhyeon’s eyebrows twitched.
He wasn’t particularly sensitive, but he wasn’t so dull as to miss changes right in front of his nose.
“If there’s something bothering you, I’ll send someone to check.”
“No. Rather, about that question from earlier. I should give you my answer again.”
“What…?”
“About Oh Bangja. The company head doesn’t need to worry about it. Just work comfortably as you have been.”
Though Yuhyeon tilted his head in confusion, Shin Ah kept her words brief and left the warehouse area.
‘That bastard’s target seems to be me.’
It was Geum Yuhyeon, the company head, who had driven him out of Geumwa Trading Company.
Of course, Shin Ah had greatly influenced that incident, but hadn’t that bastard been shouting ‘I won’t forgive the company head!’?
‘Why did his target change to me?’
Being deeply curious about the reason, Shin Ah headed not toward the Escort Agency, which was her original destination, but toward a secluded mountain path.
* * *
Shin Ah headed not to Manhyang Express but to a deserted place.
‘That girl is going to a secluded place with her own feet. How grateful.’
Oh Bangja, who was following Shin Ah, grinned wickedly.
‘I was worrying a lot about how to kidnap her.’
Whether she was smart or stupid, Shin Ah was almost admirable for finding a place to be kidnapped on her own.
Shin Ah’s steps toward the deep forest showed no hesitation.
When they finally arrived at a place with no human presence, Oh Bangja caught up to Shin Ah.
She would be so surprised she’d faint.
Oh Bangja’s lips spread wide with anticipation.
“Oh.My.Goodness. Isn’t that Uncle Oh Bangja?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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